Iran Expels 5 British Envoys, Citing Ouster of 5 by London

AP

Published: June 7, 1987

NICOSIA, Cyprus, June 6—
Iran ordered today that five British diplomats leave the country in retaliation for the closure by Britain of an Iranian consulate, the official press agency reported.

The agency, monitored in Nicosia, said one of the British diplomats ordered out was Edward Chaplin, who was detained and beaten last week by a revolutionary police unit.

On Thursday, Britain ordered Iran's consulate in Manchester closed and gave five diplomats there a week to leave the country. One, Ali Qassemi, a Vice Consul, had been was arrested for shoplifting May 9.